Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain. With a population of almost 3.3 million, Madrid is the second largest metropolis in the European Union.
| Madrid | ||
| region | Madrid | |
|---|---|---|
| resident | 3,266,126 (2019) | |
| height | 667 m | |
| tourist information web | www.munimadrid.es | |
| no tourist information on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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district
Madrid has become a real metropolis and a big city all the time, so there is still a small and quiet old town, from which a whole empire was once ruled. This area of the old city - without a doubt the most interesting in Madrid - can be divided into five neighborhoods:
- Huertas and Sol - Huertas is the former literary district, today the area around Plaza Santa Ana is worth a visit for dinner and drink at night. Puerta del Sol is the social and commercial center of the city.
- La Latina and Austrias - La Latina is the oldest part of Madrid, with small winding streets, sleepy and Mediterranean beautiful. Austrias, on the other hand, is the surrounding area of the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor; it is the place where most of the tourist attractions and attractions are found.
- Malasaña - The hip neighborhood around the Plaza del Dos de Mayo is home to the young and more alternative scene at night. You will find many bars and pubs, unconventional design and second-hand shops.
- Chueca - This is where the gay scene meets.
- Lavapiés - The most multicultural district, the "Kreuzberg" of Madrid.
A little further away:
- Retiro and Paseo del Arte - The Parque de El Retiro is Madrid's largest park, the size of a whole neighborhood; the most important art museums are located at the Paseo del Arte.
- Salamanca - The most expensive and exclusive district, with luxury apartments and representative offices of international brands.
- Chamberí - a medium-history district with little tourist attractions; there are few places to visit but there are good value for money.
- Moncloa - a student-driven approach to university completion
- Arguanela - The borough on the banks of the Manzanares, south of the city center, was upgraded by the urban development project Madrid Rio.
background
climate
continental, dry and sometimes extreme. Hot in summer and cold in winter. There are no moderate temperature seasons like the German seasons spring and autumn, but only "sol o sombra" (sun or shadow). Occasionally it rains, but there is no snow in town every year.
language
In Madrid, standard Spanish (Castellano) is spoken, but at a rate that overwhelms many foreigners. But most of the time, when they realize that they are talking to a foreigner, the interlocutors take into consideration and switch to a slower and more simple language. English skills are becoming more common, especially in the younger generation, so that you can at least order food or become traded on goods and prices. Information boards are available in the tourist districts, and in many restaurants, menus are also available in English.
However, it is highly recommended to acquire at least basic Spanish skills (see Spanish phrasebook). Most of the Madrid people we are dealing with are delighted with the efforts being made and, if necessary, are trying to understand the meaning.
arrival
By plane
The Madrid-Barajas Airport "Adolfo Suárez" (Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas), is the largest airport in Madrid and the whole of Spain.
Many low-cost and scheduled airlines fly from Germany, such as Lufthansa, Iberia, Ryanair, AirEuropa and LATAM provide direct connections to Madrid. To name a few:
- Lufthansa, Iberia, AirEuropa, Ryanair and LATAM fly several times a day from Frankfurt
- Lufthansa from Munich
- Vueling ab Nürnberg
- easyJet offers flights from France from the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.
- Ryanair operates flights from Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt/Main, Cologne/Bonn and Nuremberg.
The airport is very large, so you should not underestimate the time it takes to change trains or boarding: Transition times of 15 minutes until you arrive at the gate despite running bands are not unusual. In particular, it should be noted that Terminal 4 is far from the other terminals 1-3. Shuttle buses run between the terminals.
The airlines of the Oneworld Alliance, such as Iberia and LATAM, are based at Terminal 4.
The main connection between the airport and the city center is metro line 8, which stops at both terminal 4 and terminals 1-3. As well as the C-1 from Terminal 4.
There is also a 24-hour express bus service Exprès Aeropuero, every 15 to 20 minutes during the day, every 35 minutes at night. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the airport terminals T1, T2, T4 with O'Donnell, Plaza Cibeles and Atocha station. fare € 5,-.
A standard price of 30 € (2020) applies for taxi trips to the city (within the M30).
by train
Madrid has two main train stations:
- 1 Estación de Puerta de Atocha (in short "Atocha") (metro 1 Atocha Renfe and various city bus lines). Tel: 902 320 320th
- 22 Estación de Madrid-Chamartín (in short "Chamartín") (Metro 1, 10 Chamartín). Tel: 902 320 320th
Madrid is the center of the long-distance rail network of the Spanish RENFE. The comfortable high-speed AVE trains connect the capital with Catalonia (Barcelona, Lleida, etc.), Aragón (Huesca, Zaragoza), Valencia, Alicante, Andalusia (Malaga, Sevilla, Córdoba), León and Toledo. From Barcelona to Madrid, for example, take 2½ hours and pay between €75 and €108 in the tourist class. from Málaga it is 2:45 hours and about 80 €. There are also cross-border AVE from southern France.
From Germany, you usually have to change trains in Paris (including the change of train station) and Barcelona, and for example from Frankfurt am Main you have to travel for at least 15 hours. However, if you are not able to benefit from a discount or other savings, the rail service will be more expensive than a flight.
By bus
From Germany, for example, with Deutsche Touring (subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG). You can get to Madrid by bus from all around the country.
On the street
Madrid is not only the political, cultural and geographical center of Spain, but also the transport sector. There is an almost network-shaped motorway network in Spain, whose "streaks" are formed by stars in Madrid. Around Madrid there are ring motorways (e.g. , etc.) which make it easier to get to the desired place within Madrid.
This network allows you to reach the capital in a few hours from almost every corner of Spain. It takes about 6 hours to get to Malaga for about 600 km. The AVE (see above) takes less than 3 hours.
Distances to/from Madrid: Barcelona 615 km, Bilbao 395 km, A Coruña 600 km, Lisbon 625 km.
mobility
Madrid has a very well developed public transport network, which has been further developed following the (failed) bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. You can take the metro, bus, underground train (Cercanías) and taxi.
Of course you can also use your own car or rent a car. In the city center at least, the traffic is rather confused, there are many narrow streets, one-way streets and pedestrian areas.
Bicycle riding is not very common until now, probably because of the hot climate and the rather hilly topography. However, there is a well-developed public rental system for e-bikes, BiciMAD, with 165 stations (as of March 2017; on average one station every 300 meters). However, registration is rather bureaucratic. Even if you want to use the system only once, you have to enter your ID or passport number and have your credit card charged with a deposit of 150 € (you need a credit card with PIN). Alternatively, you can hire a bike from a common private rental company, such as:
- 1 Trixi Bicicletas. Staff speak English well, e.g. T. also Dutch or French, give practical hints and tour suggestions. Also offers guided bike tours in the group (open tour March-November daily 11 a.m., 12 km, 3 h, advance booking recommended; or private tours on various topics on registration). A deposit of 50 € and a copy of the card must be provided. Opened: Mon-Fri 10-14 and 16-20, Sat-So 10-20. Price: 4 hours 8 €, 24 hours 15 €, 2 days 25 €, each additional day 7 €, helmet and lock incl.
Most of the tourist attractions are concentrated in the old town and can be reached on foot. So you can see something of the city, and there is something to see in the distance between Palacio Real in the west and Parque Retiro in the east every few meters.
metro and bus
The narrow metro network of Madrid can be found here and the metro line map can also be downloaded as PDF. There are 3 tram lines (Metro Ligero) in the neighborhoods.
Buses run until about 10.30 pm and the last metro starts at 1.30 am. In the morning traffic starts again at about 6.00 a.m. At night you can use night buses. A network card can be found at the back of each bus stop.
The prices are very moderate and the same for the bus and metro, so you can also use them in both modes of transport. The prices are:
- Single journey in zone A for 5 stations: €1.50 each: 0,10 € more up to a maximum of 2,- €. For trips from and to the airport plus 3,- €.
Sencillo Combinado (Combined Single): € 2,- - Ten card (Zone A): 12,20 € for 10 journeys by bus or metro (3,- € will have to be paid separately when you arrive at the airport. Combinado 10 viajes (Combined 10 Journeys): € 18,30- for 10 journeys by bus not exceeding 1 hour.(Aug. 2015)
- Tourist offices Bilet Turistico (any number of journeys in the specified period, children under 11 pay half).
- The Bilet Turistico A is located on the metro zone A, Metro Ligero 1, all EMT de Madrid buses, the suburban train Cercanias of the Renfe in zones 0 and A.
- The Bilet Turistico T is also on the Intercity buses of the Madrid region and the cities of Guadalajara and Toledo, the entire Metro network, Metro Ligero ML2 and ML3, all areas of the suburban train Cercanias of the Renfe and the Parla tramway.
| days | zone A | zone T |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | €8.40 | €17,- |
| 2 | €14.20 | €28.40 |
| 3 | €18.40 | €35.40 |
| 5 | €26.80 | €50.80 |
| 7 | €35.40 | €70.80 |
You can buy single tickets in the metro stations as well as in the buses. Ten tickets can be purchased at the metro and Estancos ("Tabaco stores") (but not in the buses). The ten cards have to be devalued every time you travel, the Bilet Turistico can be found at all metro stations, the Centro de Atención al Viajero (Passenger Assistance Center) in the metro stations at Barajas airport T1,T2,T3 and T4, in the tourist information office, Plaza Mayor 27 and the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid, as well as many others purchase on presentation of an identity card or order via the Internet [1].
For longer stays, the Monthly Cards (Abono mensual) are recommended, which can only be purchased from the Estancos on presentation of the identity card and a photograph. The youth clubs (Abono joven) can also be applied for there, but they have to be printed first and delivered by post or via Estanco. You need a copy of the ID and a few days. The exhibition lasts from 2 days to 3 weeks.
Tip: It should be said that the buses only stop when you give them a show of hands. It is also the rule to set up in a row at large bus stops while waiting.
Another tip: To know the arrival time of the next bus, you can send an SMS to the number 7998 with the words EXPERA space number of the bus stop and receive a message with the required information shortly afterwards. The costs for both SMS are € 0.15 plus VAT.
night bus
In Spanish: Nocturnos. The lines are different from the daylines and can also be read on the bus stop plans: Every night line has a N written in front of the number. The lines are in the form of stars from the Plaza de Cibeles (west of the Puerta del Sol) and leave almost every 10-15 minutes at weekends, every 30-45 minutes during the week. They run all night and cost no more than normal buses or the metro. Since spring 2006, every 15 to 20 minutes of buses run every 15 to 20 minutes on weekends, in addition to the normal night buses, with regular metro lines.
Cercanías
There are few Cercanías stations within Madrid (e.g. Atocha, Recoletos, Chamartín, Sol), but they are the only way to get from the suburbs to the city center. Cercanías are part of the national railway Renfe. There are 9 lines of Cercanias (suburbs):
- C-1: Príncipe Pío - Atocha - N. Ministerios - Chamartín - Aeropuerto T4
- C-2: Guadalajara - Alcalá - Atocha - Chamartín
- C-3: Aranjuez - Atocha - Sol - Chamartín
- C-3a: San Martín de la Vega - Pinto
- C-4: Parla - Atocha - Sol - Chamartín / Cantoblanco - Alcobendas / Cantoblanco - Colmenar Viejo
- C-5: Móstoles El Soto - Atocha - Fuenlabrada - Human
- C-7: Alcalá de Henares - Atocha - Chamartín - Príncipe Pío - Atocha - Chamartín - Fuente de la Mora
- C-8: Atocha - Chamartín / Villaba - El Escorial / Villalba - Cercedilla
- C-9: Cercedilla - Cotos
- C-10: Villalba - Príncipe Pío - Atocha - Chamartín - Pitis - Fuente de la Mora
All the lines pass through Atocha station. Cercanias are suitable for excursions to the mountains of Guadarrama, to Aranjuez (line C-3), ALcala de Henares (line C-7) or to the Escorial (line C-8). Within Madrid, the journey from Chamartin train station to Atocha train station is often faster with the Cercanias than by metro. The trains run from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. every night from 10 to 30 minutes. The fare depends on the distance (number of zones). There are simple tickets or a bonus ticket for 10 journeys. Prices for single journey are € 1.60 for zone 1 and 2, € 1.75 for zone 3, € 2.50 for zone 4, € 3.30 for zone 5, € 3.95 for zone 6 and € 5.30 for zone 7. Prices for bonus tickets are € 9.70 for zone 1 and 2, € 13.20 for zone Zone 3, € 17.95 for Zone 4, € 23.45 for Zone 5, € 27.55 for Zone 6 and € 27.05 for Zone 7. (2013)
taxi
The official taxis are white with a red stripe on the side and the coat of arms of the city. The taxi fares are favorable compared to the prices in Germany. The prices for taxis are calculated as follows (2020)
- Departure: € 2,40 Mon to Sa 6 am to 9 pm, € 2,900 Mon to Fri 21 am to 6 am the next day, Sat, Sun and Holiday 6 am to 9 pm
- Tariff 1: 1,05 € per kilometer Area A (Madrid City Area) From Monday to Friday 6 to 21:00, Sa 6 to 15:00
- Tariff 2: 1,20 € per kilometer Area A (Madrid metropolitan area Mon to 21:00 to 7:00 the next day, Sat 15 to 6:00 the next day, Area B (Madrid area) Mon to Fri 6 to 21:00, Sat 6 to 15:00
- Tariff 3: 1,25 € per kilometer area B surroundings of Madrid) Monday to Friday 21 to 7 am on the next day, Sa, So, holidays
- Waiting time per hour € 20,500 (day) € 23,50 (night)
Additional charges:
- Christmas and New Year 21 to 6: €6,70
- Travel from railway stations or motorway stations € 3.-
- Transfer from Barajas airport: €5,50
- No luggage allowance or pet
Tip: In each taxi, a sign is placed on the passenger's side: Ocupado in red means "occupied"; Libre in green is called "free." Generally, free taxis are also visible on the vehicle's "light". The hand is raised to stop the taxis.
In case of a complaint, the taxi driver must provide the passenger with a notice of complaint and the taxi number. The complaint can then be filed at the Ayuntamiento (City Hall).
sightseeing
Madrid City Tour. Tel: +34 902 088 908. Opened: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Price: 1 day: € 21,-, adolescents up to 15, elderly from 65 € 9.-, 2 days: € 25,- teenagers up to 15, seniors from 65 € 12.-. offers 2 sightseeing tours:
- Historical Madrid. Calle de Felipe IV, Alfonso XII, Plaza de la Independencia, Calle de Alcalá, Calle de Velázquez, Calle de Goya, Plaza de Colón, Paseo de Recoletos, Calle de Alcalá, Gran Via, Plaza de España, Calle Princesa, Calle del Marqués de Liria, Calle de Luisa anda, Calle de Ferraz, Plaza de España, Calle Bailén, Calle de San Quintín, Calle Arrieta, Plaza de Isabel II, Requena, Calle Bailen, Calle Gran Vía de San Francisco, Puerta de Toledo, Calle Bailén, Calle Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Carrera de San Jeróna nimo, Calle Cedaceros, Calle Alcalá, Plaza de Cibeles, Paseo del Prado, Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, Paseo del Prado, Calle de Felipe IV.
- Modern Madrid. Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, Paseo del Prado, Plaza de Cibeles, Paseo de Recoletos, Plaza de Colón, Paseo de la Castellana, Plaza de Lima, Calle de Concha Espina, Calle de Serrano, Plaza de la Independencia, Calle de Alcalá, Plaza de Cibeles, Calle de Alcalá Calle de Sevilla, Calle de Carrera de San Jerónimo, Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo.
cable
3 Teleférico Madrid (Teleférico de Madrid), Paseo del Pintor Rosales (corner Paseo de Camoens, Parque del Öste; Metro 3, 4, 6 Argüelles or Bus 21 Marques de Urquijo - Teleferico or 74 Pº Pintor Rosales - Fco. J. Alcantara). Tel: +34 915411118, e-mail: [email protected]. Cable car in the Casa de Campo Park. The location was excellent, the staff were very friendly and helpful. Here you will find a zoo, an aquarium and an amusement park. Opened: 11-19.30, Apr. Sep 12-20, May-Aug 12-21. Price: Single journey 4,20 €, return trip 5,90 €, children under 3 free.
On the street
As in most major cities, Madrid is not recommended to drive its own car. Parking on the street is limited from Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm, Saturday to 3 pm, in August: Mon to Sat 9 am to 3 pm. Parking from 11:00am to 1:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm is more expensive, cheaper from 9:00am to 11:00pm and from 1:00pm to 6:00pm.
Blue parking: not more than two hours: until 20 minutes € 0.25, until 30 minutes € 0.40, to 60 minutes € 1.05 from 9 to 11 and 13 to 18 hours, € 1.10 from 18 to 20 hours, 90 minutes € 1.65 from 9 to 11 and 13 to 18 hours, € 1.75 6 pm to 8 pm, 120 minutes € 2.70 am from 9 am to 11 am and 1 pm to 6 pm, € 2.80 pm to 8 pm
Green parking: maximum one hour, up to 20 minutes € 0.50, up to 30 minutes € 0.90, up to 60 minutes € 2.00 from 9 to 11 and 13 to 18 hours, € 2.10 from 18 to 20 hours.
Parquímetros (parquímetros) are the most popular parks in the country, where you can pay in cash or with Tarjeta monedero. This card can be obtained from the Oficina Municipal de Estacionamiento Regulado or from the control bodies. The card can be recharged at each parcometer with € 15. If you park for a maximum of 1 hour longer than planned, you can avoid a penalty for paying € 3 at the parking counter.
sights
churches and monasteries
- 1 Catedral de la Almudena (just south of the Palacio Real on Calle de Bailen). Construction of the cathedral began in 1879 and was later extended. It was only completed in 1993. The cathedral can be visited from Calle de Bailen. The beautiful organ, the high altar, leads up to the staircase and the colorful church windows are striking. Opened: Mon-So continuously from 09:00 to 20:30. Price: free; for a donation i.H.v. 1 € is requested.
- 2 Basilica de San Francisco el Grande, San Buenaventura 1 (metro 5 Puerta de Toledo; Bus 3, 148, N16 San Francisco el Grande). The Basilica is one of the most beautiful churches in Madrid. The church was built by the Italian architect Francesco Sabatini in 1785. Its mighty dome has a diameter of 33 meters. During French rule under Joseph Bonaparte, the Cortes (Parliament) met here. Since the end of the 19th century, the church has been used as a pantheon, for example the builder of the Prado Juan de Villanueva is buried here. On one of the side altars there is the picture "The Presermon of St. Bernhard" by Francisco de Goya. Opened: Dive to Sat 11 until 1 p.m., 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Price: € 3, students, seniors € 2.
- 3 Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel, Calle de San Justo 4 (metro 5 La Latina). The baroque church was built in the first half of the 18th century. Today it is the seat of the Apostolese Nuncius and the meeting point of the ultra-conservative Opus Dei.
- 4 Colegiata de San Isidro, Calle de Toledo (Metro 5 La Latina). The Baroque Church was built in 1622. It houses the buildings of the San Isidro Town Hall. In the adjacent Jesuit school Instituto de San Isidro Calderon de la Barca, Lope de Vega and Francisco Gomez de Quevedo were taught.
- 5 Iglesia de San Andres, Plaza de San Andres (metro 5 La Latina). The church forms a building with the Gothic Capilla del Obispo (Bishop's Chapel). In a predecessor building, the patron of Madrid, San Isidoro, was buried here. The church was built in the 2nd century AD. half of the 17th century. The church was badly damaged during the civil war and after the renovation it is now one of the most impressive churches in Madrid.
- 6 Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, Glorieta de San Antonio de la Florida 5 (Metro 6, 10 or Cercanías C1, C7, C10 Príncipe Pío, bus 41, 46, 75 San Antonio de la Florida). Tel: +34 915420722, +34 917011863, Fax: +34 917011686. The settlement was commissioned by King Carlos IV in 1792. built by the Italian architect Filippo Fontana. The sculptures are by José Ginés. Francisco de Goya created the frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Saint Anthony. In 1919, the remains of Goya were transferred here. In 1928 King Alfonso XIII handed over. the settlement to the Academy of Fine Arts San Fernando. Opened: Tue till So 9:30 am till 30 am, Mon closed. Price: Admission free.
- 7 Iglesia de San Ginés, Calle del Arenal 13. Metro 1, 2, 3 Sol or 2, 5 Opera
- 8 Iglesia de San Jeronimo el Real (Los Jeronimos), Calle de Felipe IV (on the back of Prado; Metro 1 Atocha or 2 Banco de España, bus (numerous lines) Neptuno). The church was founded in the 15th century, the current neo-Gothic building dates back to the 19th century. Here the prince of Asturias lays his oath, where kings are called and where the weddings of kings take place.
- 9 Iglesia de San José, Calle de Alcala 43 (Metro 2 Banco de España). The architect Jose de Riberira was commissioned in 1730 to build a Carmelite monastery here. The construction took 15 years. The monastery was demolished in the 20th century because it took the place of the Banco de Biscay and the Teatro Apolo.
- 10 Iglesia de San Nicolás, Plaza San Nicolás 6 (Metro 2, 5 Opera). The church is a brick building with stone arches in the Mudejar style. The origins of the church date back to the 12th century. The Mudejar-style brick tower may be the remnant of a former minaret. The horseshoe arches at the entrance to the choir and the stucco decoration correspond to the Mudejar Szil. The altarpiece was created by the architect of the esque, Juan de Herrera.
- 11 Iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo, Calle del Nuncio (metro 5 La Latina). The church was first mentioned in the 13th century. A part of the mighty church with square brook tower dates back to the 14th century, large parts of the building were added in the 17th century.
- 12 Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, Plaza de las Descalzas Reales (Metro 2, 5 Opera). The monastery was built at the beginning of the 17th century by Margarethe of Austria, the wife of King Felipe III., and rebuilt in the 18th century after a classical-style fire. In the collection of paintings you will find pictures of Spanish masters of the 17th century monastery, cloister and church, which can only be visited by a tour. Guided tours are available in French, English and Spanish. The maximum size of the group is 25 people. Opened: Di-Do, Sat 10.30-12.45, 16-17.30, Fri 10.30-12.30, Sun 11-13.30, Mon closed. Price: 7 €, students and seniors free.
- 13 Monasterio de la Encarnación, Plaza de la Encarnación 1 (Metro 2, 5 Opera). Opened: Di-Do, Sat 10.30-12.30, 16-17.30, Fri 10.30-12.30, Sun 11-13.30. Price: 5 €, students, senior citizens 2.50 €.
- 14 Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia, Calle Caballero de Gracia 5 (Metro 1, 5 Gran Vía). The prayer house was built at the end of the 18th century by the architect of the Prado, Juan de Villanueva. It is considered the best example of classical architecture in Madrid. However, the façade was only added in 1830.
castles, palaces and palaces
- 3 Palacio Real . The Royal Palace at the western end of the city center was built in the 19th century instead of a burnt fortress in 1734. The building was built by the Bourbon king Philipp V. The works lasted 26 years. Until 1931, the year of the abdication of Alfonso XIII, the palace was also the residence of the Spanish kings. The current king Felipe VI. lives in the palace of La Zarzuela in front of the city and uses the palace only for state receptions. You can visit the Palacio Real. It must not be photographed. This was the site of a Moorish Alcazar, which has been inhabited and rebuilt since the 11th century by the Christian kings. This Alcazar was destroyed by a fire in 1734. In the following year, Philipp V. commissioned the Italian architect Filippo Juvarra with plans for a new building. These plans provided for a monumental facility with 23 yards and a length of almost 500 meters. After his death in 1736, Giovanni Battista Sacchetti was commissioned to continue the construction of a closed building with four wings, similar to the Louvre in Paris. The foundation stone was laid in 1737, the construction and most of the furnishings were completed in 1764 and Charles III. was able to move into the new residence with his courtyard. At that time, the frescoes of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in the throne hall and the frescoes of Corrado Giacinto above the main staircase were completed. The painters Anton Raphael Mengs, Francisco Bayeu, Antonio Gonzalez Valdez carried out the extensive equipment program until the time of Charles IV. from here. The palace was built from 1764 until the flight of Alfons XIII. Inhabited in 1931 by the Spanish House of Lords. Since 1950 it has been partially accessible to the public. Today, it serves for state acts. In 1962, the Nuevos Museos were opened in the former living quarters of the sister of Alfons XIII, Isabella of Bourbon, and the queen Maria Christina and the carpet museum. The Armeria Real (Royal Weapons Collection) has been located since 1893 at the end of the western arcades of the forecourt, the Palastapothic in the eastern wing of the Vorhofarkaden and the Royal Car Museum in the park of the Campo de Moro.
- main staircase: The vaulted ceiling displays the fresco "The Triumph of Religion and Church" by Corrado Giacinto. Above the entrances to the staircase balcony and to the guards' room are the frescoes "Hercules break the columns" and "Spain's triumph over its opponents" by Corrado Giacinto.
- The Sala de Alabarderos (Room of Guards) is dominated by the fresco "Aenea ascending to the temple of immortality" by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo from 1766.
- The Sala de Columnos (column room) was originally a gala hall and later a Charles III hall. The ceiling fresco "Triumph of Apoll and Bacchus" is from Corrado Giacinto.
- The Saleta de Gasparini is the private dining room of Charles III. The ceiling painting "Apotheosis of Emperor Trajan" from 1774 is a main work of the German painter Anton Raphael Mengs. Mengs came to Madrid in 1762 and was the court painter of Charles III.
- The Antecamera de Gasparini is painted with the fresco "Apotheosis of Hercules". The fresco was started in 1763 and finished in 1775. Here are the portraits of Charles IV. and his wife Maria Luisa of Parma of Francisco Goya. She probably commissioned Napoleon in 1799. They are presented once in court costume and once as a private person, Charles IV. as a hunter, Maria Luisa with a black veil. These paintings are considered to be the main works of Goya’s late portrait art and the first portraits in modern sense.
- The Salon de Gasparini was the dressing room of Charles III. The vaulted ceilings are decorated with precious stucco decorations, with red-colored chinoiseries. The decoration is under Ferdinand VII. completed.
- The Charles III Salon was the bedroom and death room of Charles III. (died 1788). The lounge was only built in 1828 under Ferdinand VII. completed.
- The porcelain room was carried out by the factory from Naples to Madrid in 1765 to 1770 under the direction of Giuseppe Gricci.
- The ala Amarilla (yellow hall) was named after the yellow silk wallpaper from Charles III. The fresco on the ceiling of 1829 depicts "Juno on your car".
- The Gala Room was inaugurated in 1879. Alfons XII brought together three rooms originally intended for Maria Amalia of Saxony. The ceiling frescoes of the 18th century have been preserved, representing "Aurora" (by Anton Raphael Mengs, started in 1763, completed in 1775), "Columbus before the Catholic kings" (by Antonio Gonzalez Velazquez) and "The handover of Granada" (by Francisco Bayeu). The walls are carpets from the series "Vertumnus and Pomona" owned by Karl V., made in the 16th century in Brussels in the workshop J.Pannemakers.
- The next three rooms contain the collection of subjects, the cinema hall of Alfons XIII. and silver tableware.
- The chapel in the north wing was executed according to plans of Giovanni Battista Sacchetti by Ventura Rodriguez. Corrado Giacinto was the one who painted it. The dome is decorated with a fresco of the "Marienkröner", the pendentifs with paintings of the Spanish saints Leandro, Hermengildo, Isidro and Maria de la Cabeza and the vault of the southern suburb "The St. Jacob in the battle of Clavijo against Moors 844" decorated. On the main altar there is the picture of "Michael Hl" by Francisco Bayeu and on the northern side of the altar there is a "proclamation" by Anton Raphael Mengs.
- The three western annexes house the treasure chamber, pre-sacristy and paintings of 17th century Italian painters.
- The East wing was the former home of Charles IV. and his wife Maria Luise of Parma. The rooms were built between 1906 and 1929 by Maria Christina of Austria, the mother of Alfons XIII. inhabited. The wall and ceiling painting of the late 18th century has been preserved. Inside, the "Museu de Tapices" (carpet museum) is located. In the outer series of rooms there is a fresco on the ceiling "Time reveals the truth", carpets from the Real Fabrica, Goya carpets made in 1780 for the El Pardo Palace, including "The Wooden Fans", the ceiling fresco "Apoll and Minerva characterize the talent" by Antonio Gonzalez Velazquez, enfresco "fall of the giants" by Francisco Bayeu and a full portrait of Franz Xaver Winterhalter, the mirror room that originally was the dressing room of Maria Luisa of Parma with a fresco "Hercules in Olymp" by Francisco Bayeu, the ceiling frescoes "The Order of the Spanish Monarchy" by Francisco Bayeu and "Hercules at Scheide deweg" as well as a polyptichon of Juan de Flandes, born in 1496, representing the life of Christ and belonging to the possession of Isabella the Catholic.
- The so-called private mosquitoes, housed in the building that was built by Francisco Sabatini as a library and since Isabella II. used as royal dwellings reflect the atmosphere of the last inhabitants of Alfons XIII. and his wife Victoria Eugenia von Battenberg. These are 17 rooms with many personal memorabilia. The portraits of Louis XIV, Louis XV, French kings are particularly remarkable. and the image of Philipp V. by Hyacinthe Rigaud in the queen's reception hall and the portraits of Ferdinand IV, king of Naples, and his wife Maria Carolina, Anton Raphael Mengs (1773) in the music hall.
- There are four large representation rooms in the eastern part of the southern wing. The ceilings of the small auditorium and the throne hall glamor the Spanish monarchy. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo worked on it from 1762.
- In the first room is the fresco "Apotheosis of Emperor Hadrian".
- In the second room is the fresco "The Golden Fleece" by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, son of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and a half-figure portrait of Charles III. by Anton Raphael Mengs.
- The small auditorium is decorated by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's fresco "Apotheosis of the Spanish Monarchy" on the ceiling. The 18th century tapestries are based on the work of David Teniers.
- In the throne hall there is the fresco "The Glory of the Spanish Monarchy", which Giovanni Battista Tiepolo completed in 1764 as the first fresco in the Royal Palace.
- 2 Casa de San Isidro (Museo de San Isidro), Plaza de San Andres 2 (Metro 5 La Latina). The city palace is one of the most beautiful examples of Habsburg architecture. Here lived and died the districts of Madrid San Isidoro. Then became the palace seat of the Dukes of Paredes. Today, the Museo de los Origines is located here, where you can find the archeology and history of Madrid (see below). The Pozo de los Milagros is particularly remarkable.
- 3 Palacio de Santa Cruz, Plaza de la Provincia 1 (Metro 1, 2, 3 Sol). Built in the 17th century, this is a typical example of the Habsburg architecture. At the time of the Inquisition, the building served as a prison, since 1901 it has been the seat of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 4 Palacio de Liria, Calle de la Principessa 20-22 (Metro 3 Ventura Rodriguez). The palace of the Dukes of Alba was completed in 1780 by Ventura Rodriguez. The palace burned down during the civil war and was later restored to its original state. It contains a collection of works by El Greco, Goya, Murillo, Riberia and Velazquez. Opened: Nov until May, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 5 Palacio Real de El Pardo, Manuel Alonso (13 km northwest of the city center via the M-605). A summer palace of the Spanish royal family, located on the northern edge of the city. The original building dates back to the mid-16th century, but from 1772 to 1778, the palace was significantly refurbished under the direction of architect Francisco Sabatini and is now part of the late Baroque and classicism. From 1939 to 1975, the fascist dictator Francisco Franco resided here, having the palace restored and modernized. Today you can visit parts of the palace, the castle park, the chapel, the working and bedroom of Franco. Opened: daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
structures
- 6 Atocha railway station, Plaza Emperador Carlos V (metro 1 Atocha or Atocha Cercanías). The modern part of Madrid's main train station is boring and ugly. However, the very beautiful historical railway station hall has been converted into a botanical garden with tropical plants, turtle pond and cafés. The visit to tortugas turtles is a good way to combine with a visit to the Retiro Park and the Reina Sofia Museum. Characteristics:
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- 7 Banesto (Banco Espanol de Credito) (Palacio de la Equitativa), Calle de Alcalá, 14 (Metro Banco de España). The Banesto is one of Madrid’s most spectacular bank palaces.
- 8 Openbank, Paseo de la Castellana 24 (Metro Ruben Dario). The former main building of the Banco Santander was built in the 19th century and renovated in 1993 by the Austrian architect Hans Hollein. The building cannot be visited, only a view of the atrium is possible.
- 9 Circulo de Bellas Artes (circle of fine arts), Calle de Alcala 42 (Metro Banco de España). The Belle Epoque house of the Madrid Kunstverein contains one of the most famous coffee houses in the city. The Circulo de Bellas Artes was founded in 1880 and is located in one of the largest palaces in the Calle de Alcala. The building was built in 1926 by the architect Antonio Palacio. The exhibition includes documents from the history of the association. The Circulo de Bellas Artes has been an important intellectual meeting point from the outset. Opened: Cafe: So until 9 a.m., Fri, Sat 9 a.m. to 3 a.m., exhibition rooms: From Monday to Saturday 11 to 21 pm, from 5 pm to 9 pm, from 11 am to 2 pm.
- 10 Palacio de las Cortes (Spanish Parliament), Plaza de las Cortes (Metro Banco de España). The building has a classical column hall flanked by two bronze lions and bears the inscription Congreso de los Desputados.
- 11 Edificio Carrión/Capitol, Gran Via 41 (Metro Callao). The Art Deco building of the Edificio Carrión was built in 1931-1833 by architects Luis Martínez-Feduchi and Vicente Eced. Today there is the cinema Capitol.
- 12 Edificio España, Plaza de España (Metro 3, 10 Plaza de España). Built between 1948 and 1953, the 117-meter high residential and office building is a symbol of Franco rule. When completed, it was the tallest building in Spain. It is stylistically similar to Stalinist structures in the Eastern block, but with references to the Spanish Baroque. It has been empty since 2005, and Chinese investors' reuse plans have not yet been realized. The RIU Plaza Espana is located here today.
- 13 Palacio Longoria, Calle Fernando VI, 6 (corner of Calle Pelayo; metro 4, 5, 10 Alonso Martínez). The exceptionally decorative Art Nouveau palace was built in 1902-03 as a residence for the banker and politician Javier González Longoria. It was designed by the Catalan architect Jose Grasses Riera. It is considered one of the most important and beautiful examples of Spanish modernism. Today it is the seat of the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (Spanish Writers' Association). The inside is not open to visitors, but you can see the entrance and the staircase.
- 14 Edificio Metrópolis, C/ Alcalá 39 (corner of Gran Vía; Metro 2 Banco de España). Former head office of the insurance company La Unión y el Fénix, built in 1907-11 in the French Beaux-Arts style. On the dome, which is visible from a distance, there was once a Phoenix figure; When the Metrópolis insurance company took over the building in 1972, it removed her rival's symbol and replaced it with a winged Victoria statue.
- 15 Ministerio de Hacienda y Función Pública (Ministry of Finance), Calle de Alcala 11 (Metro Sol or Seville). The Ministry is located in the building of the former Royal Customs House (Real Casa de la Aduana). This building was built in the 2nd half of the 18th century by Francesco Sabatini, the court architect of King Carlos III. built in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace.
- 16 Puente de Segovia. Beautiful bridge, just south of the Palacio Real over the Manzanares river, was commissioned by King Felipe II after choosing Madrid as capital.
- 17 Puerta de Toledo (Metro Puerta de Toledo). Puerto de Toledo is the only preserved city gate in Madrid, next to Puerto de Alcala. It was built in the first half of the 18th century under King Philipp V. by the architect Pedro de Ribera.
- 18 Palacio del Senado (Spanish Senate), Plaza de España. Originally there was an Augustine monastery. It was converted into the seat of the town council in the 19th century. The building was extended in 1988-1992 by the architect Salvator Gayarre Ruiz de la Galaretta in a post-modern style.
- 19 Teatro Real, Plaza de Isabel II (Metro 2, 3 Ópera). The opera house in Madrid. It faces the Palacio Real on Plaza de Oriente. The building dates back to 1850. Between 1991 and 1997, the hotel underwent major renovations. The interior is shaped like a horseshoe with 4 ranks and is decorated in red and gold tones. 1630 visitors will find space. We will present our own and also foreign productions.
- 20 Teatro Valle-Inclán, Plaza de Lavapiés (Metro Lavapiés). The theater was built in 2006 following a design by architects Ángela García de Paredes and Ignacio García Pedrosa. It is named after the Galician author Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, who is known in Spain for his fine irony and irreverence against the ruler.
- 21 Templo de Debod, Calle Ferraz 1 (Metro 3 Ventura Rodríguez or 3, 10 Plaza de España; Bus 74 Ferraz - Luisa Fernanda). Tel: +34 913667415, Fax: +34 91354171971, e-mail: [email protected]. The Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple that was rebuilt in Madrid. It was originally located 15 km south of Philae on the banks of the Nile. The construction of the Aswan dam in 1960 put a number of archeological monuments in the Nile region at risk of flooding. In 1968, the Egyptian government gave Spain the temple of Debod a gift in recognition of Spain's help in saving the temple of Abu Simbel. The temple was cut into large blocks, which were transported to Madrid in 1970 via Alexandria and Valencia. The temple was rebuilt on a former site with military barracks. It has been open to the public since 1972 and is one of the few examples of ancient Egyptian architecture that can be visited outside Egypt. Opened: Oct to Mar Di until Fr 9.45 to 13.45, 16.15 to 18.15, Sa, Sun 9.30 to 20.00, Apr to Sep Di until Fr 10 to 14, 18 to 20.00, Sa, 9.30 to 20. Price: Admission free.
- Chamberí Metro (Andén 0), Plaza de Chamberí. Underground station closed in the 1960s. reopened as a museum. Opened: 10-19.00. Mon, Di. Mi. closed. Price: free.
monument
- 22 Fuente de Cibeles (or only La Cibeles; wells). A representative well with a statue of the Greek fertility goddess Kybele (Spanish Cibeles) on a car pulled by two lions. It is located in the center of the roundabout on the square of the same name. The Classicist monument was designed by Ventura Rodríguez, the figures created by the sculptors Francisco Gutiérrez (goddess and car) and Roberto Michel (lion). The monument was built in 1780-92.
- 23 Fuente de Neptuno (Neptune Fountain), Plaza de Canovas del Castillo (Metro Atocha). The Neptune Fountain was also built at the end of the 18th century and is intended to remind of the Spanish power of the sea. Today, it serves as a meeting point for fans of the Atlético Madrid football club.
- 24 Miguel de Cervantes, Plaza de España. The monument with a fountain was inaugurated in 1929, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the death of the Spanish national poet. It was designed by architect Rafael Martínez Zapatero and sculptor Lorenzo Coullaut Valera. Cervantes can be seen here in the company of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza (both on their mount, the mare Rocinante or a donkey), his two most famous Romanesque figures. The monument is crowned by a world ball that symbolizes the global spread of the Spanish language.
- 25 Calderón de la Barca, Plaza de Santa Ana, one of the most important poets of the Spanish classics.
- 26 Federico García Lorca, Plaza de Santa Ana, in front of the Teatro Español. Federico García Lorca is an important Spanish modern poet.
- 27 Don Álvaro de Bazán, Plaza de la Villa. Don Álvaro was commander of the Spanish fleet in Naples in 1570 and participated in the Lepanto battle with 30 ships in 1571.
- Tirso de Molina, Plaza Tirso de Molina
- 28 Monumento homenaje a las víctimas del 11-M, Paseo de la Infanta Isabel/Calle de Alfonso XII (in front of Atocha station; metro 1 Atocha Cercanías). memorial for the victims of the terrorist attack on suburban trains on 11 March 2004, with 191 dead and more than 2000 injured, as well as the security officer who died trying to arrest the terrorists. The monument consists of a 11-meter-high rotunda, in which numerous expressions of condolences are written on the walls.
museums
- 29 Museo del Prado, Paseo del Prado. Prado is not only the most famous museum in Madrid, but also one of the largest and most important art museums in the world. It offers almost everything the art had to offer until 1850: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed on Mondays. Price: Entry 14 €, with copy of official guide: 23 €, reduced: €7 (as at 3/2013). From 6 p.m. and from 5 p.m. on Sundays admission costs 7 €. Characteristics: No photography, no smoking.
- During the Spanish Civil War, the Prado was hit and closed by bombs in the summer of 1936. In May 1937, the paintings, including 45 Velázquez, 138 Goyas, 43 El Grecos, were brought to Valencia in a well-packed truck. As the war approached, it continued to Barcelona and finally to Switzerland in Geneva. After the end of the war on 7 September 1939, Switzerland sent the pictures back to Madrid at the request of Franco.
The main works in Prado are:
Old Dutch painting
- Rogier van der Weyden: cross acceptance (around 1443)
- Hieronymus Bosch: The garden of the lite (around 1510)
- Hieronymus Bosch: The truck (around 1485-1490)
- Pieter Brueghel d.Ä: The triumph of death (around 1562)
German painting:
- Albrecht Dürer: self-image (1498)
- Albrecht Dürer: Adam and Eve (1507)
Italian painting:
- Tizian: The Bacchanal (1521/22(
- Tizian: Karl V. zu Hord (1548)
- Tizian: Venus with organ player and amor (1555)
- Tizian: Danae (1551-53)
- Tizian: Venus and Adonis (1554)
- Tizian: self-image (around 1562)
Spanish painting:
- El Greco: Adoration of shepherds (1612)
- El Greco: Picture of a noble man with his hand on his chest (around 1580)
- Francisco de Zurbaran: Still life (1658-64)
- Bartolome Murillo: Holy family with the bird (around 1650)
- Diego Velazquez: Bacchus (1628/29)
- Diego Velazquez: The transfer of Breda (1635)
- Diego Velazquez: Las Meninas (1656)
- Diego Velazquez: The spiders (1657)
- Francisco de Goya: The naked Maja (around 1798-1800)
- Francisco de Goya: The dressed Maja (around 1798-1805)
- Francisco de Goya: The family Karl IV (1800)
- Francisco de Goya: The second of May 1808 (1814)
- Francisco de Goya: Third May 1808 (1814)
- 30 Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (in short: Museo Reina Sofía or MNCARS), Calle de Santa Isabel, 52 (metro 10 Atocha). An important museum of modern art (from about 1900), which was expanded with a modern extension. The exhibition is mainly dedicated to Spanish artists, but also to international artists (including Miró, Dalí, Picasso). The most famous work of the collection is Picassos Guernica. Opened: daily except Tuesday from 10:00am to 9:00pm, Sunday until 2:30pm. Price: 3 € per person, reduced 1,50 €. On Saturdays from 2.30 p.m. and all Sunday free admission.
- 31 Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado 8. The private collection, together with the "Colección Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza", offers a collection of important works of art (about 800) across the centuries. There are also temporary exhibitions. Opened: Di-So 10-19 o'clock, Mo closed. Price: Admission 9 €, discounted: €6 (as at 2012). Characteristics: without flash.
- 32 Caixa Forum, Paseo del Prado 6 (metro Atocha). Tel: +34 91 330 73 00, Fax: +34 91 330 73 30. The Caixa Forum is one of several venues for the immense art collection of the Catalan savings bank la Caixa. It was built between 2001 and 2007 by the architects Herzog & de Meuron on the site of the former power plant, Central Eléctrica del Mediodía, and opened in 2008. It has an exhibition area of 2,500 m² and an auditorium with 300 seats. Particularly remarkable is the Patrick Blanc garden, planted perpendicular to the house wall, with about 15,000 plants and 250 plant species. Opened: Mon to Sun 10 am to 8 pm.
- 33 Casa-Museo de Lope de Vega (House and Museum of Lope de Vega), Calle de Cervantes 11 (Metro Antón Martín). Tel: +34 914299546, Fax: +34 914299546, e-mail: [email protected]. The museum can only be visited by a guided tour (about 30 minutes). The baroque poet Lope de Vega was an important representative of the Siglo de Oro, the Golden Age of Spanish Literature. He lived here from 1610 until his death in 1635. The house dates back to the 17th century and was reconstructed in 1935 using descriptions of the poet. Opened: From 9:30 to 14:00 until Friday, from 10:00 until 14:00. Price: free.
- 34 Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Paseo de la Castellana 50 (metro: 7, 10 Gregorio Marañón). This museum houses the art collection of the financier José Lázaro Galdiano (1862-1947) and is one of the most important museums in Spain with over 5000 works of art. The museum has masterpieces by Hieronymus Bosch, Brueghel the Elder, Cranach and Tiepolo, El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo, Zurbarán and Ribeira. The main attraction are the pictures of Goya. Opened: From Mi to Mon 10 to 4:30 pm, So 10 to 3:00 pm. Price: 6 €, seniors from 60 €, students 3 €.
- 35 Museo Arte Público de Madrid (Sculpture Open Light Museum), Paseo de la Castellana (corner of Calle Juan Bravo, under the puente Enrique de la Mata Gorostizaga; metro: Rubén Darío). Tel: +34 917011863, +34 915 782 722, e-mail: [email protected]. In the early 1970s, an open-air museum was created here by (abstract) sculptures by Spanish artists of the 20th Century. Particularly noteworthy are Mère Ubu (mother Ubu) by Joan Miró and La sirena varada (The stranded Sirene) by Eduardo Chillida.
- 36 Museo Arqueológico Nacional (National Archeological Museum), C. de Serrano 13 (metro: Colón). Tel: +34 915777912. Opened: Di-Sa 10-19 o'clock, So 10-14 o'clock. Price: Entry 3 €, students 1.20 €, teenagers under 18 and seniors from 65 free entry. Characteristics: without flash.
- 37 Museo Cerralbo, Calle Ventura Rodríguez, 17 (metro: 3 Ventura Rodríguez or 3, 10 Plaza de España). Tel: +34 915473646, +34 915473647, Fax: +34 915 59 11 71, e-mail: [email protected]. The 19th century palace belonged to Enrique de Aguilera y Ganboa Marqués de Cerralbo, who lived from 1845 to 1922. His private collection has been owned by the Spanish state since 1922. The collection includes works by Goya, Ribera, Zurbarán, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Tizian and Van Dyck. The most important work is the painting of Francis of Assisi of El Greco in the house chapel. The villa gives an excellent impression of the life of the Madrid upper class at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries Opened: Tue till Sat 9:30 till 15:00, 17 to 20:00, So 10 to 15:00, Mon closed. Price: € 3, Do after, Sa from 2 p.m., So admission free, seniors from 65 free.
- 38 Museo de América, Avenida Reyes Católicos, 6 (metro: 3, 6 moncloa). Tel: +34 915492641, +34 915439437, Fax: +34 915446742. Opened: Tue till Sat 9.30 am till 3 pm, 9.30 pm till 7.00 pm, So 10 am to 3 pm. Price: Entrance 3 €, Sunday free, children/teenagers under 18, seniors from 65 free.
- 39 Museo de Historia de Madrid (Historical Museum), Calle de Fuencarral 78 (Metro Tribunal). Built by Pedro de Ribeira in 1700, the Hospicio de San Fernando is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Madrid. The overcrowded entrance portal is particularly impressive. In the basement, city maps and very detailed models (including a historical city model dating back to 1830) illustrate the location and growth of the city. On the rising floors, you can travel through centuries of the history of Madrid, from the beginning to the 20th century, with 40,000 exhibits including paintings, photographs, costumes, furniture, posters and documents.
- 40 Museo del Romanticismo, Calle de San Mateo 13 (Metro Tribunal or Alonso Martinez). Tel: +34 914481045, +34 914480163, Fax: +34 914456940, e-mail: [email protected]. The museum is located in a palace of the city at the end of the 18th century and contains the art collection of the Marques de Valle-Inclan (furniture, objects and paintings, works by Goya, Zurbaran, Velazquez, Murillo). The engravings of the romantic Madrid around 1860 give an impression of the city's appearance at the time. Opened: Nov to Apr Di to Sat 9.30 to 18.30, Sun 10 to 15 am, May to Oct Di to Sat 9.30 to 20.30, Sun 10 to 15 am. Price: € 2, discounted € 0.50, free from 2 pm.
- 41 Museo de los Origines, Plaza de San Andres 2 (La Latina metro). Tel: +34 917011863, Fax: +34 917011686, e-mail: [email protected]. The museum is located in the Casa de San Isidro (see above). The museum shows the history of Madrid from its prehistory to 1561. This year King Felipe II moved. the capital of his kingdom to Madrid. The permanent exhibition includes the teeth of a Neanderthal, remains of animals hunted by Neanderthals, ceramics and metal objects, glassware and sculptures from the Roman settlement of Villaverde Bajo, as well as objects from the Western Gothic, Moorish and Christian times. A model from Madrid in 1656 is particularly impressive.
- 42 Museo Nacional de Antropologia (National Anthropological Museum), Calle de Alfonso XIII. Tel: +34 915306418, +34 915395995, Fax: +34 914677098. Opened: Tue till Sat 9.30 till 20, So 10 till 16.00, Mon closed. Price: 3, reduced € 1.50.
- 43 Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, Calle Montalbán, 12 (metro: Retiro or Banco de España). Tel: +34 91532-499. The museum is located in the palace of the Duchess of Santona built around 1880. Here you will find furniture, porcelain, silver and gold items, rugs, altars, watches, ceramics, mirrors, prayers, sculptures, textiles, tapestries and compartments. A 18th century kitchen from Valencia is particularly remarkable. The tiles show the production of sweets and chocolate by the servants of the house. Opened: Tue till Sat 9.30 am till 3 pm, So 10 am to 3 pm, Mon closed. Price: €3, reduced by 1.50.
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (National Science Museum), José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2 (metro: Gregorio Marañón, Nuevos Ministerios, Ríos Rosas). Tel: +34 91 411 1328, Fax: +34 91 564 5078. Opened: Tue till Fri, Sun 10 am till 5 pm, Sat 10 am till 8 pm, Sat in Jul/Aug 10 am till 3 pm, Mon closed. Price: € 6, discounted € 3.
- Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid (Railway Museum), Paseo de las Delicias 61 (south of Atocha station; Delicias metro). Tel: +34 902228822, e-mail: [email protected]. The Delicias station was built in 1880 and is one of the most important of the 19th century steel architecture. The railway museum has 30 trains. Opened: Tue till 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., FR, Sat 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., So 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Price: € 5.09, students, seniors over 65 € 3.56, So € 2.04,.
- 44 Museo Naval (Maritime Museum), Paseo del Prado 5 (Metro Retiro or Banco de España). The museum gives an overview of the history of the Spanish Navy. It contains models, charts and navigation tools from the 16th to the 19th Century Opened: Tue till So 10 am till 2 pm, Mon closed. Price: Admission free.
- 45 Museo Sorolla, Po. General Martínez Campos, 37 (Metro Ruben Dario or Iglesia). Tel: +34 913101584, Fax: +34 91 3085925, e-mail: [email protected]. The painter Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida lived from 1863 to 1923. He is the most important painter of impressionism in Spain. The small palace was built according to his plans. The painter lived here from 1910 to 1919. Here you can visit the lounges, studio kitchen, dining room and some of its most important paintings, some of which are furnished with original furniture. Opened: Tue till Saturday from 9:30am to 8:00pm, 10:00am to 3:00pm. Price: € 3, Sat from 2 pm, So free, seniors from 65 free.
- 46 Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum), Calle Alcalá, 237 (in the bullring Las Ventas; metro: Ventas). Tel: +34 917 251 857. Price: Admission free.
streets and squares
- the 47 Calle de Alcala is one of the main arteries of Madrid. It is about 4 km long and runs from Puerta del Sol to the bullring Las Ventas near the M30. This is the financial center of Spain: the Ministry of Finance, the Spanish Central Bank (Banco de España) and Madrid's main branches of the large commercial banks BBVA, Cecabank, Santander and Bankia. Most of the buildings were built in the 19th century or early 20th century.
- the 48 Gran Vía is the splendid street of Madrid. It leads from the Plaza de España to the Plaza de Cibeles (about 1 mile). Most of the buildings date back to the beginning of the 20th century, when more than 300 houses of the old town were demolished, King Alfonso XIII himself gave the signal for the demolition of the houses in 1910. The Gran Via is dominated by the first skyscraper of Madrid, the administrative building of Telefonica.
- 49 Plaza de Cibeles , Metro Banco de España. The square is home to a series of representative buildings dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries: Spanish State Bank, Palacio de Communicaciones, Palacio de Linares and Palacio de Buenavista. The Cybele fountain in the middle of the square is one of the landmarks of Madrid.
- 50 Plaza del Dos de Mayo , Metro Tribunal. This was on 2 May 1802 the scene of fierce fighting between the people of Madrid and the French occupiers. The population, led by officers Velarde and Daoiz, strongly resisted. Today their monument is in the middle of the square. The 15-year-old girl Manuela Malasana took part in the fighting. Today, the district of Malasana is named after it.
- the 51 Plaza Mayor you must have seen, even if you can argue about its beauty. The rectangular space is bordered by balconies, slate roofs with attic windows. This square, which was built from 1617-19 by the architect Juan Gómez de la Mora, has witnessed bullfights, festivals, executions and the tribunals of the Inquisition. There are nice views from its exits to some of the small descending streets. The square is 120 by 90 meters. The architect of the Escorial Juan de Herrera is the Casa de la Panaderia, a former bakery. The square was destroyed several times, most recently in 1790 by fires. Today's design is based on the design of Juan de Villanova, the architect of Prado. The town patron San Isidoro was pronounced here in 1602, and King Felipe IV was proclaimed king here. The paintings on the Casa de la Panaderia are not baroque, they were only displayed in 1992. This year, Madrid was the European Capital of Culture. In December, the Plaza Mayor is home to a vibrant Christmas market.
- 52 Puerta del Sol is the symbolic center of Madrid and therefore the whole of Spain. Here you can find the km zero of the Spanish road network. The square was named after an old town gate which was demolished in the 16th century. There are two main streets, Alcalá and Mayor, that are connected. The Sol station also hosts the most important metro lines. At the corner of Calle Carmen you will find Madrid's landmark Oso y Madrono, the statue of a bear attached to a strawberry tree, which is also found in the coat of arms of Madrid. There were some important historical events in this square: On 2 May 1802 the bloody resistance against the French occupying power (Dos de Mayo) began here, in 1912 the Spanish Prime Minister was murdered and in 1931 the second republic was declared. To this day, the Puerta del Sol has often been the scene of political protests. The Puerta del Sol is also a lively place in everyday life. For tourists, the people are in elaborate costumes that allow you to pose for a certain fee for a photograph, for example as Don Quixote and Sancho Pansa, as flamenco dancers, but also as Star Wars or Pokémon figures. Every year, thousands of people from Madrid gather here on New Year's Eve to eat 12 grapes at the Clock of the Casa de Correso post office building, which is a good thing. This New Year's Eve celebration is also broadcast nationwide on television.
- the 53 Plaza de la Paja is one of the beautiful little squares in the old town. There are numerous restaurants and tapas bars in the surrounding streets.
- the 54 Plaza de Santa Ana It was founded in 1941 by the French Joseph Bonaparte, who had a 16th century Carmelite monastery and several houses demolished. Today the square with its many cafés and bars is one of the most popular places in the Centro. On the square there is a monument to the baroque poet Calderon de la Barca and in front of the Teatro Español a monument to the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca.
- 55 Plaza de Tirso de Molina
- 56 Calle de Serrano At the Golden Mile between Calle José Ortega y Gasset and Calle Claudio Coello, leading companies and the most famous Spanish and international designers such as Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Gucci, Löwe, Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu opened their shops. One of the most famous shops is that of shoe designer Manolo Blahnik. It is also home to the Avant-garde shopping center Isolee, with leading international companies such as Comme des Garçons, Manish Arora, APC and Filippa, the Jardin de Serrano shopping center in a 19th century building, or ABC Serrano, which is located in a former newspaper printing house, one of the best examples of modernism in Madrid. The street also houses the Kabuki Wellington gourmet temple, Ramón Freixa Madrid, the Oriol Balaguer chocolate shop, students of the world famous chef Ferran Adria and the bombonería Santa. The Mercado de la Paz is the only market hall that has been preserved with a 19th century iron structure. Here you will find the best cheese and Iberian products. The most famous Spanish and international jewelers, such as Rabat, Suárez, Cartier and Tiffany&Co, have also settled in Calle de Serrano.
park
- 1 Jardines del Buen Retiro. or Parque del Retiro (Retiro Park) is Madrid's green lung. Beautiful and varied. To the south is the Palacio de Cristal built in 1887 (glass palace), where tropical plants were originally exhibited by the Philippines. The model was a glass palace at the 1850 London World Exhibition. Further north is the Palacio de Velásquez. To go boating on the pond at Monumento a Alfonso XII you should either have a few hours of waiting or come on a working day. A very good guitar player often sits at the glass palace during the weekend, creating a wonderful atmosphere. It is worth taking a walk in the very beautiful park. The main entrance is at the Puerta de Alcalá, but access is also possible from Calle Alfonso XII, Calle de Alcalá or Av. de Menéndez Pelayo. Metro 2 Retiro.
- 2 Real Jardín Botánico (Royal Botanical Garden), Plaza de Murillo 2 (Metro 1 Atocha). The botanical garden was built in 1744 at the request of King Carlos III. In the garden, more than 30,000 plants can be visited and some trees are more than 200 years old. The collection of bonsai by former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez is particularly remarkable. Opened: Nov to Feb 10-18, Mar, Oct 10-19, Apr, Sep 10-20, May to Aug 10-21. Price: Entrance 3 €, students 1.50 €, seniors over 65 free.
- 3 Jardines de Sabatini, Calle de Bailen (just north of the Royal Palace Metro Opera). The baroque garden was built on the ground of the former stables of the palace. The park is about 2.5 hectares and was designed by the Italian architect Francisco Dabatini. From here, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Casa de Campo Park, to the mountains of the Guadarrama Mountains.
- 4 Campo del Moro. Historical garden on the west side of the Royal Palace, built in the 19th century.
- 5 Parque del Öste, Paseo del Pintor Rosales/Calle Ruperto Chapí (Metro 3 Ventura Rodríguez or 3, 6 Moncloa; Bus No. 74 runs directly at the edge of the parks). Beautiful park located north-west of the city center. These include the Egyptian Temple of Debod, a beautiful rose garden, the fountain of the Juan de Villanueva and the cable car station to the Casa de Campo.
- 6 Casa de Campo. Extensive green area (over 1700 hectares, which is more than four times the size of the English Garden in Munich) in the west of the city. Casa de Campo means "cottage" and is due to the fact that these lands used to be used for hunting the Spanish kings. The site is mostly unspoiled and not very gardened. The Casa de Campo is loosely covered with the typical Iberian low-grown bushes, which do with little water (maquia). The Casa de Campo also houses the Parque de Atracciones theme park, the Madrid Zoo and the Aquarium. The best way to get there is by cable car (teleferico).
- 7 Parque Madrid Río - The motorway, which once cut the city and transformed the banks of the River Manzanares, was put underground at the beginning of the 21st century for around EUR 4 billion during the Olympic Games campaign and replaced by a unique landscape park that will accompany the river on about six kilometers along both shores. 33 bridges have been inaugurated for the green urban project, one of the most demanding of its time in Europe, allowing you to move from one side to the other virtually anytime, setting 5,500 benches and planting 33,000 trees. The park has very different faces: You can take a bike or roller skates on well-paved paths, but you will have to take a stroll in the first place. There are also a number of walking paths where you can enjoy the view. Cafés, beach bars and kiosks provide for your leisure. Metro 3, 6 Legazpi or 5 Marqués de Vadillo or 6, 10 and Cercanías C1, C7, C10 Príncipe Pio.
- 8 Parque de El Capricho, Paseo de la Alameda de Osuna, 25 (10 km northeast of the city center; metro 5 "El Capricho", then 700 m on foot; or bus line 105 "Parque Capricho"). Romantic landscaped garden on the north-eastern outskirts of the city, built for the Duchess of Osuna between 1787 and 1839. In addition to tree and coniferous trees, hedges, flowery meadows and ponds, there are small bridges, antique statues, temples, obelisks, a ruin, grotto, labyrinth and more.
activities
culture
- 2 Orquesta Nacional de España (Spanish National Orchestra), Auditorio Nacional de Música, C/Príncipe de Vergara, 146 (Metro 9 "Cruz del Rayo" or 4 "Prosperidad"). Tel: +34 91 337 01 40, +34 902 22 49 49, +34 985 67 96 68. classical symphony orchestra. Shows every weekend at the Auditorio Nacional de Música.
- 3 Teatro Real, Plaza de Isabel II (Metro Ópera). Tel: +34 902 24 48 48, +34 91 516 06 00. The Madrid Opera House.
- 4 Teatro de la Zarzuela, Jovellanos, 4 (Metro Banco de España or Sevilla). Tel: +34 34 91 524 54 00. This is the classic Spanish Zarzuela, a relative of the operetta and the operetta comique.
wellness
- 5 Hammam El Andalus (Arab baths), Calle Atocha 14 (Metro Tirso de Molina or Sol). Tel: +34 91429 9020, +34 902333334. Reservation required. Opened: daily from 10:00am to midnight. Price: €30.
sport
- 6 Hipódromo de la Zarzuela, Avenida Padre Huidrobo (7 km northwest of the city center, at the A6 exit Hipódromo; free shuttle from Moncloa metro station 2 hours before the start of the race). horse racing.
Two of the most successful football clubs in Spain and all of Europe are located in Madrid:
- 7 Club Atlético de Madrid, Wanda Metropolitano, Av. de Luis Aragones, 4 (10 km east of the city center; Metro 7 "Estadio Metropolitano").
- 8 Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Av. de Concha Espina, 1 (Metro 10 "Santiago Bernabéu").
amusement park
- 9 Parque de Atracciones de Madrid. Large amusement park in Casa de Campo.
- 10 Parque Warner Madrid, San Martín de la Vega (28 km southeast of the city center). amusement park with six rollercoaster tracks, three waterways and other rides. The areas are according to the themes of films by the production company Warner Bros. designed: West films, DC Superheroes, Looney Tunes and others
purchase
For the daily supply of water, chewing gum and other basic foodstuffs, the most important one is the so-called Chinos - small shops ("Alimentacion y frutos secos"), which, as the name suggests, are mostly run by Chinese people and are also open at night. Supermarkets, on the other hand, are few in the tourist areas, and they are sometimes quite intrusive and overwhelming.
If you get a little out of the city center, you will find many cheap fashion and shoe shops.
In Madrid there are still some typical old small shops that could not survive in other cities, for example:
- 1 Belloso, Calle Mayor 33 (Metro Sol). Religious articles.
- 2 Capas Sesena, Calle de la Cruz 23 (Metro Sol). mantillas.
- 3 Casa de Diego, Puerta del Sol 12 (Metro Sol). walking sticks, umbrellas, caste netting, combs, scarves, compartments.
- 4 Casa Hernanz, Calle Toledo, 18 (Metro Sol). Espadrillos.
- 5 Casa Jimenez, Calle de Preciados 42 (Metro Sol). scarves, mantillas, compartments, combs.
- 6 Casa Yustas, Plaza Mayor 30 (Metro Sol or Opera). Hats.
- 7 El Caballo Cojo, Calle de Segovia, 7 (La Latina Metro). ceramics.
- 8 El Flamenco Vive, Calle del Conde de Lemos 7 (Metro Opera). Everything you need for flamenco: guitars, caste netts and clothes.
- 9 La Favorita, Plaza Mayor 25 (Metro Sol). Hats.
shopping centers
- 10 ABC Serrano, Calle Serrano, 61, Paseo de Castellana, 34 (Metro Núñez de Balboa or Ruben Darío). The former editorial and printing house of the conservative newspaper ABC was built in 1920 in a neo-lateral and neo-déjar style. From 1991 to 1993, it was transformed into an elegant shopping center with more than 80 shops. Opened: Mon-Sat 9.15-21 am, So 12-20 pm.
- 11 El Jardin de Serrano, Calle Goya 6-8 (Metro Serrano). Shopping center with more than 20 shops
- 12 Isolée, Calle Claudio Coello, 55 (Metro Serrano). Tel: +34 902876136. Opened: Mon-Sat 10.30-20.30
- 13 Moda Shopping, Av. del General Perón, 38-40 or Paseo Castellana 95 (metro line 10 Santiago Bernabeu). Tel: +34 915811525. Opened: Mon-Sat 10-21.
- 14 Príncipe Pío, Paseo de la Florida 2 (Príncipe Pío station). Tel: +34 917580040, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
factory outlet
- 15 Las Rozas Village, Las Rozas (accessible via the A6 motorway exit 19 or by bus 625 or 628 from the Monelosta motorway station a). Outlet center in a suburb about 12 miles north-west of Madrid Opened: From Monday to Friday 10:00am to 9:00pm, from 10:00am to 10:00pm.
department
- 16 El Corte Ingles, Calle Serrano 47. Tel: +34 4325490. metro station: Serrano. If you are looking for something special and you can't find it anywhere else, you can try it at El Corte Ingles. The department store sometimes has the charm of a KaDeWe in the 1950s (with only less friendly staff) at prices of the KaDeWe today - but there are many things that don't exist. Opened: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on some public holidays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
market hall
- 17Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza San Miguel (near Plaza Mayor, Metro Sol). The market hall was built between 1913 and 1916 as an iron structure. It is best to come here in the morning.
- 18 Mercado de la Paz, Calle Ayala 26 (Metro Velazquez or Serrano). Tel: +34 4350743. Built in the 19th century by Gustave Eiffel, the building has been a market hall since 1993. Here you will find cheese, meat and other food. Opened: Mon to Fri 9 to 14, 17:30 to 20:30, Saturday 9 to 2:30.
- 19Mercado de Maravillas, Calle Bravo Murillo 122 (Metro Alvorado or Cuatro Caminos). Tel: +34 5348429. The largest market hall in Madrid is famous for its wide range of fresh fish.
fashion
- 20 Adolfo Dominguez, Calle Serrano 5 and 96 (Serrano Metro and Rubén Darío). Tel: +34 5778280, +34 5767053.
- 21 Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Calle Serrano 27 (Metro Serrano). Tel: +34 3190501. Opened: Mon-Sat 10-20.30
- 22 Devota y Lomba, Calle de San Mateo 20 (Metro Tribunal or Alonso Martínez). Tel: +34 913086020. Opened: Mon-Fri 10-19.
- 23 Elena Benarroch, Calle de Zurbarán 16 (Alonso Martínez). Tel: +34 914355144.
- Hoss Homeless, Calle Serrano 16. Tel: +34 9178810612. Metro Serrano
- Javier Larrainzar, Calle Jorge Juan, 44.
- Jesús del Pozo, Calle Almirante,. Tel: +34 915313646. Chueca metro or Colon Opened: From Monday to Friday 11 to 14, 17:30 to 20:30, from Saturday to Sunday 11 to 21:00.
- Kina Fernandez, Calle Claudio Coello 75. Tel: +34 914262420. Metro Serrano or Nunez de Balboa
- La Compania Multihispana, Calle Hortaleza 30. Tel: +34 9155323833. Metro Gran Via
- Loreak Mendian, Calle Argensola 5. Tel: +34 915214152. Metro Alonso Martinez Opened: From Monday to Friday 11 to 14, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, from 11:00am to 9:00pm.
- Lydia Delgado, Hermosilla, 49. Tel: +34 915751072. Metro Velazquez
- Paco Casado, Calle Castello 6. Tel: +34 914310150. Metro Avenida de Anerica,
- Pedro del Hierro, Calle Serrano 24 and 63. Tel: +34 915756906. Metro Serrano
- Pedro Morago, Calle Almirante 20. Tel: +34 915216628. Metro Colon
- Piedad de Diego, Calle Lagasca 90 Tel: +34 915769180. Metro Nuñez de Balboa
- Purificacion Garcia, Calle Serrano 28. Metro Serrano
- Roberto Torretta, Jorge Juan, 14 (Callejón de Jorge Juan). Metro Colon Opened: From Monday to Friday 10:30 to 2:30 pm, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, from 10:30 to 2:00 pm.
- Roberto Verino, Calle Claudio Coello 27 or Calle Serrano 30. Tel: +34 915777391. Metro Serrano
- Supreme, Calle Martín de los Heros, 24. Tel: +34 915410042. Metro Ventura Rodriguez Opened: From Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 2:00pm, 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
- Sybilla, Jorge Juan, 14 bis (Callejón de Jorge Juan). Tel: +34 91 5781322. Metro Colon Opened: Mon Bos Sat 10.30 - 20.30.
- The Deli Room, Santa Bárbara 4. Tel: +34 915211983. Metro Tribunal Opened: From Monday to Friday 10 to 14, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, from 7:00pm to 3:00pm and from 3:00pm to 9:00pm.
- Victorio y Lucino, Calle Lagasca 75. Tel: +34 914318786. Metro Nunez de Balboa
ham and cheese
- La Boulette, Calle Ayala, 28, Mercado de la Paz (Salamanca). Tel: +34 431 77 25. Metro station Salamanca, large selection of cheese Opened: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., closed in the evening.
- El Palacio de los quesos, Calle Mayor, 53. Tel: +34 548 16 23. with a choice of more than 80 types of cheese Opened: From Monday to Friday 9 to 14:30, 17 to 20:30, Saturday 9 to 2:30.
- La Garriga, Paseo de la Castellana, 153 (Castellana). Tel: +34 570 01 39. Metro Station Cuzco Opened: From Monday to Friday 9 to 15.30, 17 to 20 am, Saturday 9 to 2.30 pm.
- Cuenllas, Calle Ferraz, 3 (Argüelles). Tel: +34 547 31 33. Metro Station Ventura Rodríguez / Plaza de España Opened: From Monday to Friday 9 to 15.30, 17 to 20:00, Saturday 9 to 14:30.
- La Leonesa, Santa Isabel Calle, 1 (Lavapiés). Tel: +34 369 06 81. Antón Martín metro station Opened: From Monday to Friday 9 to 15.30, 17 to 20:00, Saturday 9 to 14:30.
- López Pascual, Calle Corredera Baja, 13 (Malasaña). Tel: +34 522 85 1. Metro Station Noviciado
Chocolate and sweets
- Chocolateria San Gines, Asadiza de San Gines 5. Tel: +34 913656546. since 1894
- Antigua Pastelleria del Pozo, Calle del Pozo 8. Tel: +34 915223894. has existed since 1830 and is the oldest pastry shop in Madrid. Their specialty is turrones (honey with almonds).
- El Riojano, Calle Mayor 10. Tel: +34 913664482. Pie and own chocolate
- La Mallorqina, Puerta del Sol 8. Tel: +34 915211201. Old store from 1894
- Maestro Churrero, Plaza Jacinto Benavente 2. Tel: +34 913692406.
- Casa Miro. is a confectionery business that has been producing and selling Turrones and Mazapanes since 1842. Turrones is a delicious almond/sugar. You can find the shop in the Carrera San Jeronimo 30. The Carrera begins at the Parliament and leads up the mountain to the Plaza Puerto del Sol.
- La Pajarita, Calle Villanueva 14. Tel: +34 914357454. Metro Recoletos. Sweets and chocolate, the specialty is small chocolate birds (pajaritas).
- La Violeta, Plaza de Canalejas 6. Tel: +34 915225522. Metro Sevilla, confectionery since 1915, sweets in the form and color of violet
- Oriol Balaguer, Calle Ortega y Gasset , 44. Tel: +34 914016463. Metro Núñez de Balboa (L5, L9), Lista (L4) Opened: Mon to Fri 9 to 9 pm, So 9 to 2.30 pm.
- Bomboniera Santa, Calle Serrano , 56. Tel: +34 915768646. Metro Serrano (L4) Opened: Mon Bos Sat 10 to 1417 to 20.30,
Footwear and leather
- Acosta, Calle Hermosilla 36. Tel: +34 917103026. Metro Velazquez
- Camper, Calle Precadios 2. Metro Callao
- Guantes Luque, Calle Espoz y Mina 3. Tel: +34 915223287. Metro Sol, glove shop for more than 100 years
- lion, Calle Serrano 26 (Ladies, Calle Serrano 34 (Gentlemen). Tel: +34 915776056, +34 914263588. Metro Serrano or Gran Via
- Manolo Blahnik, Calle Serrano , 58. Tel: +34 915759648. Metro Colón (L4) , Serrano (L4), the most famous shoe designer in Spain Opened: From Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 2:30pm.
- Nero Denda, Calle Castello 38. Tel: +34 914359723. Metro Velazquez, handbags
- Piamonte, Calle Marqués de Monasterio, 5. Tel: +34 917025561. Metro Serrano Opened: From Monday to Friday 11 to 20.30, Sat 11 to 14.30, 17.30 to 20.30.
road markets
- The El Rastro flea market. The "flea market" in Madrid, even if it really deserves the name flea market only in some parts of the secondary roads. In many areas, it is simply a market where merchants sell everything. It takes place every Sunday morning. It is recommended not to show up much later than 11 a.m., because then it is not so crowded. There is much more to the Rastro than there is already in Madrid: Hand on money. Carry backpacks in front of the body, hold the bag with your hand!
- Feria del Libro. Metro Atocha, Jardin Botanico and Parque de Retiro, rare books
- Mercado de Monedas y Sellos, Plaza Mayor. Metro Sol, coins and stamps Opened: So in the morning.
carpet
- Real Fabrica de Tapices (Royal Carpet Manufacture), Calle de Funterrabia 2. Tel: +34 943405501, Fax: +34 915513409. Metro Mendez Pelayo or Atocha. The Royal Carpet Manufacture was founded in 1721 and is one of the most famous carpet manufacturers in Europe. Here, carpets and gobelins are still produced today, and you can see the artists and weavers working there. There are currently about 50 craftsmen employed here. A square meter wall carpet costs up to € 9,000,-. The carpet factory is also specialized in restoration work. Opened: From Monday to Friday 10 to 2 p.m. Price: € 3.
Wines and spirits
- Lavinia, Calle Ortega y Gasset 16. Tel: +34 4260604. Metro station Nunez de Balboa, offers more than 4000 different wines and spirits.
- Mariano Aguado, Calle Echegaray 19. Tel: +34 4296088. is a wine business that has existed for 150 years. The painted ceiling of the shop is also remarkable. Opened: From Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 14.30 to 20.00, Saturday, 9.30 to 24.00.
kitchen
- Madrid tapas includes all the delicacies of the Spanish cuisine, such as seafood, ham and cold cuts, grapes, potatoes and cheese.
The cuisine typical of Madrid is:
- Sopa de ajo, garlic soup, usually with peppers. grilled ham, fried bread and a lost egg
- Callos a la madrileña, stew
- Oreja de cerdo, pig ears in garlic
- Cocido madrileño, chick peas, ham, chorizo, lumps, pasta. The soup is first prepared and eaten, then followed by chickpeas and meat on separate plates.
The following restaurants are known for the cocido madrileño:
- La Bola, Guillermo Rolland, 1. Tel: +34 915476930, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Mon to Sat 13 to 16, 20.30 to 23.00, SO closed. Price: €35. , near the Royal Palace.
- Lhardy, Carrera de San Jeronimo 8. Tel: +34 915213385, Fax: +34 915 231 171.
- La Daniela Goya, Calle General Pardinas 21. Tel: +34 915752329, e-mail: [email protected]. Price: €30.
- Taberna Malacatin, Calle Rada 5. Tel: +34 9913655241. , reservation recommended.
Of course, in Madrid, restaurants offer specialties of local Spanish cuisine, such as:
- Goizeko kabi, Comandante Zorita, 37. Tel: +34 915330185, e-mail: [email protected]. Price: €60. , Basque cuisine.
- Casa Gallego, Calle de Bordadores. Tel: +34 915 419 055, +34 915 419 056, Fax: +34 915 591 225, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: daily from 12:00pm to midnight. Price: €35. , Galician cuisine.
- O'pazo, Calle de la Reina Mercedes, 20. Tel: +34 915532333, e-mail: [email protected]. Price: 55th , Galician cuisine.
- SEÑORIO DE ALCOCER, Av. Alberto Alcocer, 1. Tel: +34 913451696, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: 13 to 16, 20.30 to 24.00, closed. Price: €60. ,metro: Cuzco (Línea 10), Navarre cuisine.
- EL CALDERO, Huertas (Centro), 15. Tel: +34 914295044. Price: €35. , Catalan cuisine from Murcia.
- LA BARRACA, Reina, 29. E-mail: [email protected]. Opened: daily from 1:30pm to 4:30pm, 8:30pm to midnight. Price: €30. , metro Gran Vía or Banco de España Catalan cuisine from Valencia, rice, paella.
favorable
- VIPS, at the Neptune Fountain next to Starbucks Café. You can have breakfast or lunch at a reasonable price.
- Cafeteria Prado, at Paseo del Prado n. 16. A breakfast café where you can have a quick meal or a cup of coffee at any time.
means
- 1 Café Embassy, Paseo de la Castellana, 12, Madrid, 28046 (on the corner of the street Ayala. metro Colón). Tel: +34 914 359 480. The Embassy is a tea room, opened in 1931 by Margaret Kearney Taylor, as an English tearoom for the employees of the numerous existing foreign embassies in the area. It's a restaurant today, a tea room and a bakery. The café is very famous for the international spies that were present during the Second War, as is the nearby Ritz hotel, which was the center of the Nazi spy operations in Madrid in the beginning of 1940. The Embassy is a meeting place for many personalities, politicians, aristocrats, intellectuals, and many others. at the same time. Opened: Mon-Fri 09:30-21:00.
- La Vaca Argentina, Calle San Agustin no. 3 near the Plaza de las Cortes (Parliament building). The restaurant offers good meat, Iberian or Argentinean beef. The prices are reasonable: starters 8-15, main courses 20-25 euros. For example, a carpaccio costs 11.50 and a solomillo (filet steak) costs 23.50 euros. You can also enjoy Argentinean Malbec red wine. All prices 11/2008. The restaurant opens at 8:30 p.m.
- Casa Botín, C/ Cuchilleros, 17. Tel: +34 366 42 17, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: 1:00pm to 4:00pm, 8:00pm to 10:00pm. Price: €40. , according to Guinness Book of Records, the oldest restaurant in the world, founded in 1725.
- Albaroque Tradicion, Atocha 34. Tel: +34 896570. Price: Menu € 27 to 35, à la carte € 33 to 40. , metro station Anton Martin.
- Bolivar, Manuela Malasana 28. Tel: +34 451274. Opened: Mon to Sat 13.30 to 15.30, 20.30 to 23.30, So closed. Price: Menu € 38, à la carte € 30 to 45. , metro station San Bernardo.
- La Fragua de Sebin, Divino Pastor 21. Tel: +34 459597. Price: Menu € 30 to 45, à la carte € 25 to 40. , metro station San Bernardo.
- Las Tortillas de Gabino, Rafael Calvo 20. Tel: +34 197505. Opened: Mon to Sat 13.30 to 16.21 to 23.30, So closed. Price: A la carte € 25 to 35. , metro station Ruben Dario.
- Quintana 30. Tel: +34 426520. Opened: Closed this evening. Price: a la carte € 30 to 35. , metro station Arguelles.
walking
- Restaurant Balsac, in Calle Moreto n. 7. Tel: +34 914 200 177. With two stars. A gourmet restaurant, one of the best in the city. You have to choose a starter, main course, red wine (1Fl. for 2 people), mineral water and coffee cost 65-75 euros per person, but you will be served a good quality and tasty meal. The Balsac is Sa. (lunch), So and closed in the second half of August.
cafés and pastry
- 1 Pastelería La Duquesita, Calle Fernando VI, 2 (Metro 4, 5, 10 Alsonso Martínez). Tel: +34 91 308 02 31. Traditional confectionery, it offers excellent local specialties, which are also picturesque. Price: Chips 5-6 €.
nightlife
Madrid is known for its longest nights as the city in Europe. If you want to go out, you will always find something for your taste and - if you wish - until late in the morning. For non-Madrid guests, the nights may be unusual: The correct departure starts at 10 p.m. at the earliest, rather later, and lasts until 6 or 7 in the morning. It is also possible for longer. Before leaving, head for one of the cozy street cafés, for example, on the Plaza de Santa Ana. The nightlife of the Huertas neighborhood, with its many bars and pubs, can be easily explored from this square.
If you are looking for information and event tips and don't like to be pushed through the streets by the crowds, you should visit one of the major newspapers (El País, El Mundo, ABC). They offer a free time supplement for Madrid on certain days. Another source is the "Guía del Ocio" (leisure guide). The small book is published weekly, is always valid from Friday to Thursday and is available at pretty much every kiosk for 1,00 €. From the theater program to the restaurant tips, you will find everything there.
- Events and Tips
flamenco
- Cafe de Chinitas, Calle Torija 7. Tel: +34 915595135. Opened: Mon to Sat 20 am to midnight, shows at 8 pm and 10.30 pm, So closed. , metro Santo Domingo.
- Candela, Calle de Olmio 2. Tel: +34 914673382. , metro Anton Martin or Tirso de Molina.
- Cardamomo, Calle Echegaray 15. Tel: +34 913690757. Opened: Tue till So, show at 10 p.m., dinner at 9 p.m. Price: Entrance and drink € 39, entrance, drink and dinner € 72. , metro Sevilla.
- Corral de la Moreria, Calle Moreria 17. Tel: +34 913658446, Fax: +34 913641219, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Shows at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Price: Entry € 38.90. , Metro Opera.
classical music
- 11 Auditorio Nacional de Musica (Auditorio Nacional de Música, Metro-Cruz del Rayo y Prosperidad) Calle Principe de Vergara 446. Tel: +34 913370140, +34 913370139, Fax: +34 913370300, e-mail: [email protected]. Ticket sales Entry Plaza de Andrés Segovia Mon 16 to 18, Si to Fri 10 to 17, Sat 11 to 13 pm
musicals
- 12 Teatro Lara, Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 15 (Metro 3, 5 Callao). Small private theater in Malasaña, especially musicals, also concerts.
opera
theater
- Matadero Madrid. Legazpi metro. The former slaughterhouse of Madrid has been transformed into a state-of-the-art cultural center and offers theater and music tours. Opened: Tue till 4:00pm till 10:00pm, Saturday, 9:00pm till 10:00pm.
Zarzuela
- 13 Teatro de la Zarzuela (metro station: Banco de Espana), Calle de Jovellanos 4. Tel: +34 5245400. The Zarzuela is the Spanish version of the operetta. The works of the Spanish classics Calderon de la Barca or Lope de Vega are often used as a template.
accommodation
Those who want to stay longer in Madrid will look for an apartment - and then quickly discover that the purse will only provide one WG room. Staying in Madrid is extremely expensive, and it is difficult to add that in Spain, housing is usually bought and not rented. However, rent rooms and apartments are usually furnished. Many offers are available at the Spanish "Second Hand" (segundamano).
But even if you are staying for a shorter period (e.g. one week), a holiday apartment can be a good option, especially if you are traveling as a family or a small group. A wide range of apartments can be found on portals such as airBnB. Some of the apartments in Madrid are temporary, but some are also rented exclusively to tourists. In both cases, these apartments are mostly in multi-family houses and have a self-catering kitchen so that you can get some of the everyday life of the locals in the house and during shopping.
An overnight stay in the immediate city center (Sol, Letras, Austrias or La Latina) naturally has the advantage of being close to the main attractions. Malasaña and Chueca are still close enough to the important points of interest (1-2 km walk or one to two stops by metro) and are cheaper. You will also find a lot of restaurants, snacks and nightlife, but you will find a lot more local than tourists. If you are investing in a cheap weekly or 10 card for the metro, it is no problem to stay in Chamberí, Arganzuela or Moncloa (both 2-3 km from the city center). If you are looking for a luxury accommodation, surrounded by chic restaurants and representations of expensive designer brands, you will find it in Salamanca.
simple
There are a lot of small hostels with very low prices.
means
walking
- Villa Real Hotel **** , on the Plaza de las Cortes. The hotel was very clean and comfortable. The hotel has a small restaurant and a bar where you can eat small dishes. Price: A DZ costs 215 € per night (11/2008).
- Westin Palace Hotel **** GL, located in the Plaza de los Cortes. An old luxury hotel. If you can't stay there because of the cost, you should still look at the large Art Deco dome hall and drink a coffee or a cava/champagne.
- Hotel Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza ****, c/Antonio Maura, 5, 28014 Madrid. Tel: +34 915 224 547. Design Hotel, El Retiro, Madrid
learning
- 9 Real Academia Española de la Historia (Royal Spanish Academy of History), Calle de Leon 21 (Metro Antón Martín). Built in 1788 by the architect of the Prado, Juan de Villanova, the Academy includes a library containing more than 200,000 books and manuscripts. Opened: The reading room is closed from Monday to Friday 9 to 14, 16 to 19:00, Jul and Sep 8:15 to 15:00.
Flamenco schools
- Centro de Danza Karen Taft, Calle Libertad 15. Tel: +34 915321373. , Chueca.
- Estudios Amor de Dios, Calle Santa Isabel05. Tel: +34 913600434.
- Casa Pata, Calle Canizares 10. Tel: +34 914298471.
- El Horno, Calle Esgrima 11. Tel: +34 915275701.
language schools
Of course, there are almost infinite language schools in Madrid. It is best and cheapest to get a place in the official language school. However, this is not easy because of the high pressure. You must also register for at least three months. Otherwise, there are masses of private schools that actually offer all sorts of variations in teaching times and intensity. The most common models are intensive weekly courses with 4-5 hours per day and - depending on the school - cultural programs or longer courses with 1-2 hours per day. In general, care should be taken to ensure that the school has received the CEELE certificate. For more information:
- CEE Idiomas (es, en, fr, it, de), Calle Carmen, 6; 28013 Madrid. Tel: +34 915 220 472, +34 915 313 856, +34 915 211 004, e-mail: [email protected]. Directly at Sol (metro: Sol). The most affordable of private schools, but also mass-based. No cultural program. Primarily offers monthly courses for one (72 € per month) and two (127 € per month) hours per day.
- 10Cronopios Idiomas Spanish Language School, Calle Espalter 12. Tel: +34 915 222 014. Cooperative school run by the teachers. The Spanish courses are based on a communicative approach to make learning a language relaxed, entertaining and effective. Other services include cultural workshops and guided tours, where the school works with a historian and an art expert, as well as student housing. Opened: Mon-Fri 08:30 - 17:30.
- Estudio Sampere (es, de, fr, it, ...), Calle Lagasca, 16; 28001 Madrid. Tel: +34 914 314 366, Fax: +34 915 759 509, e-mail: [email protected]. North of the Retiro (metro: Retiro). School with very good and cheap courses. Offers various models and accommodation at affordable prices. cultural program, international audience, friendly course manager. Various certifications, including IC, CEELE, .
- Tandem (es, de, en, it, pt), Calle Marqués de Cubas, 8; 28014 Madrid. Tel: +34 915 322 715, Fax: +34 915 224 539, e-mail: [email protected]. By the Plaza de Cibeles (metro: Banco de España). Very good and personal school. Good cultural program, but more expensive. Rather specialized in intensive courses. The staff were very friendly and helpful.
- Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Madrid (es), Calle Jesús Maestro, s. n.; 28003 Madrid. Tel: +34 915 335 802, +34 915 335 803, +34 915 335 804, +34 915 335 805 (headquarters), +34 915 544 492 (Spanish), e-mail: [email protected]. At Islas Filipinas metro station. The official school of the Communidad de Madrid. Very considered, very favorable: About 90 € for 3 months with 2 hours per day.
work
conditions
EU citizens do not need a work permit. However, a tax number (NRC) and the social security number are required. The latter is easy and fast to obtain in the many branches of the Spanish Social Seguridad, the N.I.E. at special police offices. at the N.I.E. number, no card is required for EU citizens.
Non-self-employment contracts must be confirmed by the social security company before they start work, which can take several months - an important reason why so much black work is being done.
social insurance
In the case of employees (employees/employees), the employer pays a large part of the social security contributions. In contrast to German law, which states that self-employed persons are usually not covered by social security, self-employed persons are also subject to social security. The monthly (minimum?) contribution is about 250 €.
The social security obligation for self-employed workers is often concealed or even negated by the contracting authorities - understandable, otherwise few would be willing to pay hunger fees that would suddenly be negative after the proper deduction of social security and taxes.
job language teacher
If you are good at English, for example, a year at school in an English-speaking country and have a little bit of pedagogical skills, you can quickly find a job in Madrid as an English teacher - or several at several language schools. Although teachers are officially all native speakers, with typically disastrous Spanish language skills, it is hardly noticeable if the English teacher is actually German.
It's getting harder as a German teacher, because the need is much less. Even educated teachers for German as a foreign language can have (at least initially) problems making a living. Because the wage level is far below the German level. Combined with the huge rents in Madrid, it will be difficult to earn enough to set aside anything else.
For beginners, an hourly wage of €15 - not paid separately for preparation and driving time - is a good thing. However, there are many exploiters' language schools that pay up to eight euros an hour - and that is as a fee, which is taxable (without any deductions) itself, and of which 250 euros per month are payable to social security. Anyone who makes the mistake of accepting such a job is forced into undeclared work - something that at least some of the language schools seem aware of, after all, they are not asking for proper bills, etc., or offer undeclared work on their own initiative. However, it is not recommended to accept such offers: There are (very rarely) controls and everything can come about, and there is no insurance cover for accidents and the like. In the event of a dispute, or especially at the end of the activity, it can be virtually impossible to obtain the money due to you - black money can neither be claimed nor paid by bank transfer. The biggest argument, however, is that such exploiters' wages are destroying the market and, over time, forcing existing serious language schools to work themselves in a frivolous way.
safety
Madrid is less dangerous than is often perceived. However, crime is a serious problem which tourists, especially, can face. The following hints help to avoid unpleasant experiences:
An ubiquitous plague is the theft of pockets and tricks. A large number of children, especially Romanian children, make daily life easier for tourists. You are. B. the Plaza Mayor with a bit of observation to be discovered during work. Popular and rather practiced by older thieves, the opening of rucksacks in the metro, on escalators or in certain bus lines is unwittingly carried on the back. The carelessness that arises when you call your mobile phone is also available. The main points of the theft are the metro stations Puerta del Sol and Nuevos Ministerios as well as in general connecting stations between different lines, which offer more escape possibilities for the perpetrators.
Be careful also of women who infect a flower or distribute rosemary branches and ask for some small change. This is just to take the purse out and it's easier to steal it. Otherwise, if you give money to beggars, there is a risk that they will work with trickthood watching where the "benefactor" is pouring his wallet. Of course, you should not engage with hip-hop players, buy "magically" dancing comic figures, or sign petitions you don't understand. Sometimes you hear about tricksters who turn up as police officers and claim to look for counterfeit money or drugs. In fact, of course, they want to search the victims' pockets to get valuables. The real police will not easily search any tourists and will never simply ask you to leave your wallet or bag. Other trickthief meshes include street descriptions on the city map (you should show someone on the map as you are stealing), inviting a street football game, claiming that you are currently contaminated with birddung (the friendly trickthief helps clean the victim to distract the victim), or simple, easy-to-respond.
It is therefore recommended to carry your belly or breastbag under the t-shirt with little content. Spread money better, for example on your pockets. If you don't have a second identity document (e.g. passport), you should keep at least one copy in the hotel - this makes it easier to get back in case of a case. If you like it in a modern way, you can scan everything and place it in a password-protected and as encrypted as possible on your website. Before departure, you should make sure to note credit and bank card numbers as well as the freephone numbers of the respective publishers. Do not leave necessarily necessary cards and identity cards right in Germany!
Since ATMs can be manipulated, it is a good idea to use them only during the opening hours of the bank branches, so that you can get help from the staff if necessary.
health
Something that seems difficult given the enormous air pollution in Madrid. (No, it is not a fog that lies above the roads - that's all dirt! The dark bell above the city can be seen very well from outside.) Physical efforts should therefore be avoided.
If you are legally insured in Germany, you can simply go to the nearest public health center (Centro de Salud) and be treated like a Spaniard after a bit of paperwork. Spanish skills are highly recommended. The drug supplement is 40%. For this, medicines in Spain are often considerably cheaper than in Germany, and medicines that have to be paid privately in Germany are also prescription-only.
However, private (foreign) health insurance should be recommended for less than €10 per year. This leaves open the private health system - which is strictly separate from the public health system - which avoids restrictions on prescription capacity and overpayments (if the Treaty so provides), while at the same time avoiding substantial waiting times in public health centers. disadvantage: It must be paid in cash immediately, at least in part. Before doing so, please check whether the insurance company accepts documents in Spanish and what information they must contain!
(In the case of hospitalization, the differences between private and statutory insurance should be even more significant - please investigate and follow up elsewhere.)
hospitals
- Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana 261 (metro: Virgen de la Begona). Tel: +34 917277000.
- Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon, Velle del Doctor Esquerdo 46 (Metro: O'Donell). Tel: +34 915868000.
- Ciudad Sanitaria La Paz (Emergency Hospital), Paseo de la Castellana 261. Tel: +34 917342600.
Practical information
embassies
Addresses of German-language embassies:
- Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany (Embajada de la República Federal de Alemania), Calle de Fortuny, 8. Tel: +34 915579000, Fax: +34 913102104.
- Austrian Embassy (Embajada de Austria), Paseo de la Castellana 91. Tel: +34 915565315, Fax: +34 915973579.
- Swiss Embassy (Embajada de Suiza), Calle Nuñez de Balboa 35-7° Edificio Goya. Tel: +34 914363960, Fax: +34 914363980.
police
- 24 hours crime reporting number: 902102112
- Central Police Station, Calle Leganitos, 19 (near Plaza de España). Tel: +34 915488537, +34 915488008, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: 9 a.m. to midnight. , Metro Santo Domingo (Line 2), Plaza de España (Line 3 and 10) and Callao (Lines 3 and 5), Bus 1, 2, 44, 46, 74, 75, 133, 148 and C.
tourist information
- Plaza Mayor Tourist Center, Plaza Mayor, 27 (Salón de Columnas de la Casa de la Panadería). Opened: daily from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. , metro: Sol (L1, L2 and L3) and Ópera (L5). Cercanías: Sol,
- Colón Tourist Center, Plaza de Colón. Opened: 9.30 - 20.30 . metro: Colón (L4). Cercanías: Recoletos. Bus: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 37, 45, 51, 52, 53, 74, 146, 149, 150, 152, 202, the underground passage
- Plaza de Cibeles Tourist Information Point, Bulevar, corner Paseo del Prado. Opened: 9.30 - 20.30 , metro: Banco de España (L2)
- Plaza de Callao Tourist Information Point, Plaza de Callao, corner of Calle Preciados. Opened: 9.30 - 20.30 , metro: Callao (L3 and L5)
- Paseo del Arte Tourist Information Point, Calle Santa Isabel (Corner Glorieta de Carlos V). Opened: 9.30 - 20.30 , metro: Atocha (L1)
- Madrid-Barajas Airport Tourist Information Point, Madrid-Barajas Airport Terminal 2 between arrivals hall 5 and 6, and Terminal 4 between arrivals hall 10 and 11. Opened: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. , metro: Aeropuerto T1, T2, T3 (L8) and Aeropuerto T4 (L8). Cercanías: Aeropuerto T4
- Tourist Information Screen - Literary Quarter, Huertas, 39 (Asociación de Empresarios y Comerciantes del Barrio de las Letras). , metro: Antón Martín (L1)
- Centro Tourist Information Point, Palacio de Cibeles (Plaza de Cibeles, s/n). Opened: Till 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. , metro: Banco de España (L2)
Foreign Tourism Assistance Service (SATE)
- Foreign Tourist Assistance Service (SATE), City Center Police Station. Calle Leganitos,19 (next to Plaza de España. Tel: +34 902102112, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: daily from 9 am to 24 pm. , metro: Santo Domingo (L2), Plaza de España (L3 and L10) and Callao (L3 and L5), bus 1, 2, 44, 46, 74, 75, 133, 148, C,
other
mobile
Especially if you stay a little longer in Madrid and want to get in touch with locals, consider buying a Spanish SIM card (based on credit), called tarjeta prepago in Spanish. Tickets are available for around £23 and can be purchased at almost any store (an identification is required!). Depending on the supplier, you will receive more or less of the purchase costs immediately or as soon as you specify the address details. (example: Movistar card: 25 € purchase price, including 19 € instant deposits. The remaining € 6 will be paid after you have sent your address.)
There are three mobile operators in Spain:
- Movistar (es). Comparable to T-Mobile.
- Vodafone (es, en, fr, de, it, pt)
- Amena (es, en). Comparable to O2.
fixed
Generally speaking, telephone calls on landlines in Spain are still quite expensive. Telefónica (the "Spanish Telekom") charges 0.139 € for a call to Germany and a further 0.139 € for a call to Germany. However, it is cheaper to get away in call shops (locutorio) or to call cards (to be found in supermarkets and call shops). There is no system of low-cost primaries, at least not in competition.
For international calls, however, there is the possibility to dial the 902 999 007, then a "1" after the announcement and then the international number. The cost is significantly lower than Telefónica's, but still more than 4 cents per minute. More information is available here (es, en, nl, de, fr).
Internet
Internet cafes are quite common, often in connection with locutorios, from which you can make cheap calls - but the viruses on Spanish computers are even more common. Internet banking is therefore absolutely taboo, and you should change all passwords at least once you return your e-mail. It would be better to set up a separate holiday account to which all or only important emails can be forwarded. Prices for one hour Internet are usually between one and two euros, a print page is usually for 15 cents.
Wi-Fi internet access is available at the airport and other places for a fee. Whether it is worth taking the notebook on the street and using one of the many unsecured wireless LANs is doubtful, given the potential risk to life, and property, depending on where and when the day goes.
excursions
From Madrid you can easily reach very beautiful and rewarding towns in the area. Among other things, we should have seen:
- Alcalá de Henares. 35 km east; almost 40 minutes by train. Place of birth of the Spanish national poet Miguel de Cervantes, historic university town.
- Aranjuez. 50 km south; about 35 minutes by train. Baroque former summer residence of Spanish kings (UNESCO World Heritage), university town.
- El Escorial. 50 km northwest; 1 hour by train. Great royal castle and monastery from the 16th century (the largest Renaissance building in the world) with important historical library, art collection and pantheon (tomb) of the Spanish kings (UNESCO World Heritage). The Valle de los Caídos ("Valley of the fallen"), a monumental memorial and glorification site for the protagonists of Spanish fascism, with the tomb of Francisco Franco, is 14 km away.
- Chinchón. 50 km southeast. Small town with a particularly beautiful central square (Plaza Mayor), late medieval castle, late Gothic church Nuestra Señora de la Asunción with Goya paintings in the main altar.
- Toledo. 70 km southwest; 33 minutes by train. One of the oldest and most historic cities in Spain and until 1561 its capital; with Roman and Arabic testimonies, Gothic cathedral, numerous medieval churches and Renaissance Alcázar (UNESCO World Heritage).
- Segovia. 90 km northwest; about 30 minutes by high-speed train or about 1:50 hours by ordinary train. Historical city with medieval Alcázar (palace fortress), unusual late Gothic cathedral and a concise, well preserved Roman aqueduct (UNESCO World Heritage).
- Ávila. 115 km northwest; about 1:40 hours by train. Medieval town with a completely preserved Romanesque city wall (11th to 14th century) with 88 towers and nine town gates, numerous Romanesque churches, gothic cathedral, pilgrimage site of the Holy Theresa of Ávila (UNESCO World Heritage).
Tip: The best way to get there is by using the cheapest international buses that depart from different bus stations within Madrid. For example, a bus ticket to Toledo (70 km) costs around 4 € for a single journey! However, the disadvantage of traveling by bus or car can be seen in the news every evening - there are serious accidents every day with many deaths. Once you have been in Spain, you will know why. Safer and more comfortable, but also a little more expensive (not always!) and extremely inflexible in long-distance traffic the train is - El Escorial or Segovia are served by Cercanías local trains, Toledo by the high-speed train AVE (every 1-2 hours, journey time 30 minutes, departure 8,30 €, return journey 1 €2.88).
Plaza Cervantes in Alcalá de Henares
Royal summer residence in Aranjuez
El Escorial
Plaza Mayor in Chinchón
Aqueduct of Segovia
fortress town of Ávila